Machine for assembling fuses



Dec. 31, 1929- c. A. JOHNSON MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING FUSES v Full-.- 1

Dec. 31, 1929. c. A. JOHNSON MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING FUSES Filed Oct. 31, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet FIE,- 5-

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Dec. 31, 1929. c. A. JOHNSON MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING FUSES Filed Oct. 51, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet R D T N E V 1N.

Chas/e7" H Johnson Patented Dec. 31, 1929 tree srrs earasrersice CHESTER A. JOHNSGN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGI'IOR T JEFFERSON ELECTRIC C(HYIPANY, 0F CHECAGO, 1113121018, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS IvEACI-IINE FOR AS$EMIBLING FUSES The present invention relates to the electric fuse art, and more particularly to the assembling of constituent parts into fuses.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel machine for facilitating the assembling of these fuse parts with accuracy, speed, and efficiency.

A more detailed object is to provide a new and improved machine adapted to automatically and successively apply glue to the opposite ends of a series of fuse casings or tubes, and to carry the tubes into different positions to permit the convenient assembly thereof with other parts of the fuses.

Another object is to provide a novel fuse assembling machine in which irregularities and unevenness in the surfaces of the fuse parts will be automatically compensated for, and which in general is simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in operation.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side View of the machine with parts thereof shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken in the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4c is an enlarged horizontal end view of one of the glue applying mechanisms.

Fig. 5 is a side View of the mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a view thereof looking directly into the glue pot.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional, View showing one of the work supporting pins with a fuse casing mounted thereon.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the applica tion of glue to the outer end of the fuse casing.

' Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the first end-cap mounted on the glued end of the fuse casing.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating ends of the legs.

glue to the inner end of the tions, I have shown in the drawings and will 0 herein describe the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the'spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the machine is provided with a suitable support, herein shown as a table 10 comprising legs 11, and longitudinal and lateralbraces 12 and 13 connecting the lower Extending through a journal 14; in the top of the table 10 is a vertical drive shaft 15. the upper end of which supports a rotatable work carrier disk 16 and the lower end of which is journaled ina bearing 17. Any suitable means can be employed to drive the shaft 15. Preferably the shaft is geared through a worm wheel 18 and a worm 19 to a horizontal shaft 20 journaled in upstanding brackets 21. A pulley 22 is mounted on one endof the shaft 20, and is connected through a belt '23 to the drive pulley of an electric motor 24-. The bearing 17, the brackets 21, and the motor 24 are separately supported by plates 25 extending across the longitudinal braces 12. V

The carrier disk 16 is formed with a conical peripheral surface in which a plurality of equally and closely spaced pins 26 for supporting fuse casings or tubes (5 are mounted, and is disk shaped to constitute a hopper for fuse parts, such as the casings a and end caps 6. These pins extend radially from the disk 16, and are inclined upwardly and outwardly to assist in retaining the tubes a in position. Each pin 26 is formed with a shoulder 27 to limit the inner position of the tube a, and with a central longitudinal bore 28 flanged at its outer end.

Mounted on the table and at opposite sides of the carrier disk 16 are two mechanisms 29 and 30 alike in construction for applying glue respectively to the outer and inner ends of the fuse casings a. Each of these mechanisms of which only one need be described comprises a glue pot 31 which is laterally inclined to position the sides thereof parallel to the adjacent edge of the disk 16, and which is longitudinally inclined to locate one end thereof just below the supporting pins 26 passing directly over head. The pot 31 is mounted near its lower end to oscillate on an inclined shaft journaled in a block 33. A catch 3 f pivoted on one side of the block is formed with an arcuate slot 35 engaging an annular groove 36 in the outer end of the snaft 32 to prevent end movement of the latter. The block 3 3 is supoorted in an inclined position by an angle bracket 37 mounted on the table. The inner end of the shaft 32 is connected by a universal joint 36 i to a horizontal shaft 39 which is mounted in bearing brackets 40 on the table 10, and which is provided with a bevel gear 4.1 meshing with a large bevel gear 42 on the drive shaft 15.

Mounted on a shaft 43 in the glue pot 31 is a. flat circular disk i iwhich is adapted to dip into the glue in the pot and to engage and apply glue to the fuse casings a as the latter are carried by. The shaft 43 is provided with a spur gear 45 driven by a gear 46 on the shaft 32 through an idler gear 47 on a stub shaft 48. A gear 49 is mounted in the pct 81 on the inner end of a stub shaft 50 to agitate the glue. This shaft is provided with a gear 51 which is driven by the gear 46 through an idler gear on a stub shaft 53. The shafts 4:6, 50 and 53 are journaled at their outer ends in a plate 54 movable with the glue pot 3i. scraper 55 is supported by a pin 56 in the glue pot 31, and at its free end is bent into yiel ling engagement with the outer face of the glue disk li to prevent excessive amounts of glue from being applied to the fuse casings a. The position of the scraper can be adjusted to move the point thereof toward or from the periphery of the disk 4:4. by means of a micrometer screw 57 rotatably mounted in the upper end wall of the pot 31 and having a threaded engagement with a nut 58 on the scraper 55.

To compensate for irregularities in the pins 26 and for any wobble of the disk 16, a cam member 59 is secured to the inner side of the glue pot S1, and is adapted to successively c g e the shoulders 27 of the pins 26 as the r 16 is rotated, thereby positioning the glue disk i l properly with respect to each fuse casing c. A leaf spring 60 secured to the top of he table 10 engages the lower edge of the glue pot 31, and tends to move it upwardly about the shaft The pressure of suitable material such as rubber, are posi-,

tioned to engage and rotate the fuse casings a on the supporting pins 26 as they pass over the glue disks l i. Any suitable means for rotating the rollers 63 can be employed. In the present instance, each roller 63 is mounted on one end of a shaft 6% supported in a movable bearin and connected by a uni-' versal coupling 66 to a shaft 67. The latter is supported by a bracket 68 on the table 10, and is connected through bevel gears 69, a vertical snaft 70 journaled in the table 10, bevel 71, a horizontal shaft 7 2 journaled in depending brackets 73 on the lower side of the table top, and bevel gears 74, in the order named, with the drive shaft 15. Preferably the shaft in each instance is positioned to extend to one side of the center of the disk 16, thereby locatingthe roller 63 obliquely to the fuse casing a directly below, and is rotated in a direction (counter-clock wise in the present construction) which tends to retain the fuse casings a on the pins 26, abutting against the shoulders 27. v

The movable bearing 65 which is intended to permit a limited vertical. movement of the roller 63 to compensate for irregularities and differences in thesurfaces of the fuse casings a, comprises a standard 75. A hearing block 76 having a reduced end Y7 which fits slidably into a depression 78 in the upper edge of the standard is provided. The block 76 is pressed downwardly by a coil spring 79 held in position by a guard 80 secured to the standard 75. The shaft 6 1; extends transversely through a cylindrical plug 81 rot-atably mounted in the block 76, andvertical oscillating movement thereof about the axis of the plug 81-is permitted by reason of slots 82 in the sides of thblock 7 When it is desired to remove the roller 63 from the work, the guard 80 can be removed, and the shaft 6% with the block 76 and plug 81 swung out of position about the coupling 66.

In operation, fuse casings a are positioned on the pins 26 just before they pass to the mechanism 29 to 'be carried around by the disk'16. This stage of the operation is illustrated in Fig. 7 Upon passing through the mechanism 29, each casing a is rotated on the pin 26 by the roller 68, the glue pot 31 is lowered by the cam 59, and the glue disk {it applies glue to the outer end of the easmg a. This stage of the operation is illus trated in Fig. 8. After leaving the mechanism 29 the casing '64 has an end-cap b slipped onto the glued end. The cap I) is provided with a fuse element 0 which is centrally secured thereto, and which enters the bore 28 in the pin 26. This stage of the operation is illustrated in Fig. 9. In passing through the mechanism 30, the casing a is again rotated on the pin 26, and glue is applied by the disk 44 to the inner end of the casing as shown in Fig. 10. After leaving the mechanism 30, the casing a can be removed from the pin 26, the other end-cap slipped onto the open end, and the free end of the fuse element soldered thereto.

The machine herein illustrated simplifies and expeditesthe assembling of fuses, and is particularly adapted-to high quantity production. The machine is simple in construction and operation, and effects asubstantial saving in labor and time.

I claim as my invention:

l. A fuse assembling machine having, in

combination, a support, a carrier disk mounted thereon forrotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of pins mounted in the periphery of said disk to support the fuse casings, a pair of glue applying mechanisms mounted on said support at spaced points around said carrier disk and adapted to apply glue respectively to opposite ends of the fuse casings, friction rollers one mounted over each glue applying mechanism to successively rotate said fuse casings during both glue applying operations, and means for rotating said carrier disk and said friction rollers.

2. A fuse assembling machine having, in combination, a carrier disk provided with fixed means for supporting a plurality of fuse casings, a glue-applying mechanism. mounted at the periphery of said disk to automatically and successively apply glue to said casings, means for periodically rotating said casings successively as they pass over said gliie applyiiig mechanism, and means for continuously rotating said disk.

3. A fuse assembling machine having, in combination, a horizontal rotary carrier, a plurality of fixed pins mounted on the periphery of said carrier to support the fuse casings, said pins extending radially and being inclined upwardly and outwardly, means for rotating said carrier disk, means for applying glue to said casings, and means for rotating said fuse casings on said pins while glue is being applied.

at. A fuse assembling machine having, in combination, a rotary carrier, a plurality of pins on said carrier for supporting the fuse casings, a glue-applying mechanism having a glue disk positioned to peripherally engage the fuse casings as the latter are carried by, means for holding said disk yieldingly against said casings, and means for rotating said carrier.

5. A fuse assembling machine having, in

combination, a carrier having a plurality of means for supporting fuse parts and carrying them through a predetermined path, means for successively rotating said-fuse parts at a given point in said path, spring relation adjacent to said carrier to automati-- cally apply glue respectively to opposite ends of said fuse parts, the space between said means being sufiicient to permit the position-' ing of an end cap with a fuse element on one end of each fuse casing passing from one means to the other, said fuse element fitting into said bore, and means for actuating said carrier.

7. A fuse assembling machine having, in combination, a support for a plurality of fuse casings, a glue applying mechanism, means for bringing successive fuse casings and said mechanism into operative relation successively, and means for accurately establishing operative relationship between each casing and said glue applying mechanism.

8. A fuse assembling machine having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of pins on said carrieradapted to support the fuse casings, each of said pins having an axial bore adapted to receive the fuse element on one of the end caps as the latter is slipped over the end of the corresponding fuse casing, and means for moving said carrier to bring the fuse casings successively past the operator.

9. In a device of the class described, a glue applying mechanism having, in combination, a glue pot, means pivotally supporting said glue pot, spring means engaging said pot to hold the latter in operative position, a glue applying disk rotatably mounted in said pot, an agitator in said pot, means for cleaning said disk, and means for rotatingsaid disk and driving said agitator.

10. A fuse assembling machine having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of fixed pins mounted on said carrier to support the fuse casings, means for moving said carrier, means for applying adhesive to said casings, and means for rotating said casings successively on said pins While adhesive is being applied thereto, said means comprising-a friction member inclined with respect to said pins and movable in a direction to retain said casings on said pins.

11. A fuse assembling machine having, in combination, a rotatable shaft, a carrier disk on said shaft, said carrier disk having means for supporting a plurality of fuse casings, a glue applying mechanism mounted at the periphery of said disk, said mechanism having glue applying means for apply1ng glue to said casings, means operatively conneeted to said shaft for actuating said glue applying means, and means operatively cennected to said shaft for rotating said casings when the latter are in engagement with said glue applying means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto a1":- fixed my signature.

CHESTER A. JOHNSON. 

